So being that I have Mondays off I like to get out and have a little me time. I saw the sun was out and hopped on the KLR and headed out the Palouse highway towards Freeman. I have lived up here in Spokane for the most part about 30 years and have seen Mica peak in the distance forever. It is said in this neck of the woods that you never plant your garden until the snow is melted off Mica peak. Mica peak is 5205 feet high and it has the local Doppler radar radome atop it. I have wanted to find my way up for years and as I left home elected to try and find a way up. I don't carry any maps on my bike and my handheld Garmin Etrex Legend is on the fritz. I figured no matter what I would have a good time trying to find my way up. My first attempt was going through the town of Mica itself and as I rode up every side road heading towards the peak off the main route from town I never got more than a mile or two before the road turned into a private road with no trespassing signs. What a bummer. I worked my way around the whole west side of the mountain until I got to the south side and finally found a road that seemed like it was a little promising. I followed the road for about 5 miles until it finally turned into the usual switchback you see on these kinds of roads. Gravel turned to dirt and inevitably the dirt turned to mud from the snow run off due to our record setting snowfall. Well I have a fairly knobby tire on the bike and it tractored it's way up the hill well until I came to a spot where it apparently was a driveway. I backtracked a bit and saw a better spot to go up but will have to wait for the snow to subside a little further. Needless to say I will be getting a map and using my GPS next time but I will find a way up that hill yet this year. It is amazing what a few hours on your bike can do for your outlook on life. I love it.
You're quite the explorer. Perhaps you could check google maps for a route up. I have an old Garmin GPS but I want to purchase one where I can put in my own route, and also keep track of waypoints so I can see where I've been. I was looking forward to a few pix of snow and where the driveway started, oh well, next time . . .
ReplyDeleteI wished that I could take Mondays off, there is just too much traffic on the weekends
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
I agree with bobskoot... your a regular Daniel Boone! I would normally say, no worries, if you take a wrong turn, you'll just end up somewhere else. Usually, just as cool. But, I understand the necessity of the map if you have a particular destination to conquer.
ReplyDeleteHere's to try, try again. Looking forward to that post AND pictures. It should be beautiful up there!
Bobskoot -
ReplyDeleteI did actualy look up on maps live the route. Turns out if I would have gone a little further down a main road that I was using as my return point I would have been on the correct road to the top. I have found that the exploring part of it is the best part. The top is just going to be an accomplishment.
Lady Ridesalot - I love just trying out new roads and seeing where I end up. Earl has all the maps in his panniers but we all explore on our own sometimes.
To both of you - I need to tie my camera to my hip sometimes so I can share these adventures a little better.